Pokémon BW: Rise of Clarity (book 3 of the HBoD series)

Chapter 34: An Earthshaking Showdown

"Scatter!" The older man shouted and the Plasma grunts broke apart, some running back to where they came while three rushed us, their Liepard, Scrafty, and Watchog alongside them.

"Fire Lash on the Watchog!" Robert shouted and Heatmor swung his head, his flames emitting from his mouth stretching out.

"Dark Pulse!" One of the grunts shouted and Liepard skidded to a halt, claws digging into the icy floor. She fired a sphere of dark energy at Heatmor, blasting him against a container. Arcaneis slammed into Liepard while she was distracted, blasting her into a stack of ice cubes a dozen meters away. 

"Hypnosis!"

Arcaneis stumbled, shaking his head as his eyes drooped. 

"Sorry about this!" Alex shouted as her Alolan Ninetales swung Scrafty bodily towards Arcaneis, smacking him right in the face. Shaking his head, he growled and turned towards Watchog. 

Meanwhile the grunts had reached us. I sidestepped, using the slippery floor to swing myself around him. Grabbing an arm, I twirled on my heels, swinging the grunt towards Alex who swung out an arm, his head slamming into it and he fell to the floor with a groan. 

Two of the grunts had gone after Robert, but Heatmor kept them at bay. Something glinted in the corner of my eye and I turned, too late to avoid the blast of frozen wind. I found myself rolling backwards across the floor, slamming into a wall. I blinked, staring at the Cryogonal above the cloaked man. 

"I will not let you trainers interfere," he said, head raised slightly to give the appearance of looking down at us. "Pokemon must be freed, no matter the cost."

"Sorry, but you just made a big mistake," I said, getting to my feet, ignoring the pain in my back. I was gonna be sore tomorrow. "Arcaneis is very protective of me."

Arcaneis swung his head to one side, sending Watchog flying as he padded towards the man and his Cryogonal, snarling as fire burned in his eyes and electricity sparked along his fur.

"As one of the Seven Sages I hold one of the highest ranks in Team Plasma," the Sage stated, raising a hand and Cryogonal floated forwards. "And thus my partner is not to be trifled with. Even at a disadvantage."

"Then prove it," I smirked. "Arcaneis, Flamethrower!"

Arcaneis blasted a powerful Flamethrower from his maw, completely engulfing the Cryogonal. When the fire faded however, a protective shield had blocked the attack. It faded as Cryogonal spun around my Pokemon with alarming speed, spreading a cloud of haze. It thickened, obscuring both Arcaneis and Cryogonal within.

Heat rolled off in waves from Arcaneis, blasting the haze away in an instant. The heat seared the Ice type and sent him tumbling away through the air. Arcaneis took off after him, leaping atop a shipping container and spinning into a wheel of fire, electricity sparking along the flames. He zoomed into Cryogonal, who had put up a new shield, deflecting Arcaneis away.

The Ice type began spinning like a disc and zoomed into Arcaneis, knocking him across the ice covered floor before zooming out and going back for another attack. Digging his claws into the ice to control his movement, he opened his maw wide and managed to clamp them down on the fast moving Cryogonal. He spun faster in Arcaneis' mouth, glowing as fossils began appearing around them. They slammed into Arcaneis, forcing him to release Cryogonal, who then spun back a dozen feet, shooting several ice spikes that slammed into Arcaneis' chest.

Shaking himself, Arcaneis growled and promptly disappeared. He moved in a blur, striking Cryogonal multiple times before he managed to throw up another Protect. Cryogonal zoomed across the room, blasting a beam of ice as he hovered backwards. Arcaneis' body lit up with fire, nulling the attack as he blasted towards the Ice type.